George  Washington  Flowers 
Memorial  Collection 


DUKE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 


ESTABLISHED  BY  THE 
FAMILY  OF 
COLONEL  FLOWERS 


SUGGESTIONS 


TO 


BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


I 

1  HENDERSONVILLE,  N.  C.  : 

{  Jas.  D,  Davis  &  Bro.,  Newspaper  and  Job  Printers. 

I  1887. 


SUGGESTIONS 


TO 


BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


HENDERSONVILLE,  N.  C.  : 
Jas.  D.  Davis  &  Bro.,  Newspaper  and  Job  Printers. 
1887. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2014 


https://archive.org/details/suggestionstobapOOunse 


THE  FLOWERS  COLLECTION 


Suggestions  to  Baptist  GKristians. 


ARTICLE  FIEST. 


John  s  Baptism  unto  Repentance. 

HAT  did  our  Saviour  declare  concerning  John  the  Baptist  ? 
^'Among  them  that  are  born  of  women  there  hath  not 
risen  a  greater  than  John  the  Baptist :  notwithstanding  he 
that  is  least  in  the  kingdom  of  Heaven  is  greater  than  he."  St. 
Matt.  11:11. 

To  what  does  He  allude  by  the  expression, Born  of  women  ?" 
To  natural  birth  as  distinguished  from  spiritual  birth. 

How  do  you  know  this  ?  By  His  remark  immediately  suc- 
ceeding the  above  :  Notwithstanding  he  that  is  least  in  the 
kingdom  of  Heaven  is  greater  than  he." 

What  is  meant  generally  by  the  phrase,  kingdom  of 
Heaven  ?"    The  Christian  Church. 

How  do  you  know  this  ?  From  our  Saviour  Himself:  ''The 
kingdom  of  Heaven  is  likened  unto  a  man  that  sowed  good 
seed  in  his  field,"  etc.  St.  Matt.  13:24-30.  Here  it  is  impossi- 
ble for  the  phrase,  kingdom  of  Heaven,"  to  mean  the  Heaven 
above,  for  no  tares,  i.  e.  wicked  men,  will  enter  there — it  means 
the  Christian  Church  where  the  good  are  growing  with  the  bad. 

Give  another  illustration  :  The  kingdom  of  Heaven  is  like 
unto  a  net,  that  was  cast  into  the  sea,  and  gathered  of  every 
kind  :  which,  when  it  was  full,  they  drew  to  shore,  and  gathered 
the  good  into  vessels,  but  cast  the  bad  away."  St.  Matt.  13:17-18. 

What  does  our  Saviour  say  this  means  ?  So  shall  it  be  at 
the  end  of  this  world  :  the  angels  shall  come  forth,  and  sever 
the  wicked  from  among  the  just."    "The  Son  of  man  shall  send 


4 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


forth  his  an£;els,  and  they  shall  gather  out  of  his  kingdom  all 
things  that  offend,  and  them  which  do  iniquity/'  St.  Matt. 
13:41,  49. 

What  do  these,  and  many  similar  illustrations,  mean  ?  That 
in  the  Christian  Church,  God's  kingdom  on  earth,  evil  men  are 
mixed  with  the  good,  and  that  the  separation  can  only  possibly 
properly  be  made  by  almighty  and  omniscient  power. 

What,  then,  is  the  evident  meaning  of  our  Saviour's  words 
concerning  John  the  Baptist :  "  Of  them  that  are  born  of 
women,"  etc.,  and  "He  that  is  least  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven," 
etc.?  They  mean,  first.  That  we  must  be  born  of  water  and 
the  spirit."  St.  John  3:5.  Second,  That  the  least  person  bap- 
tized into  the  Christian  Church  is  greater  than  John  the 
Baptist. 

How  can  these  things  be,  and  Avhy  are  they  so  ?  On  account 
of  superior  privileges  enjoyed  in  the  Christian  Church  ;  John 
died  before  our  Saviour  was  crucified,  and  before  He  rose  from 
the  dead,  ascended  into  heaven,  and  sent  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Even  before  these  events  took  place,  what  were  the  privileges 
of  his  disciples?    See  St.  Luke  10:23,  24. 

Did  John  understand  this?  Not  only  did  he  understand  it, 
but  he  also  strove  to  impress  it  upon  his  disciples  :  ^'I,"  said 
John,  "  am  the  voice  of  one  crying  in  the  wilderness,"  etc.,  i.  e., 
so  great  was  his  modesty  he  utterly  disclaimed  being  anybody ; 
merely  a  voice — sound  and  nothing  more!  Christ  was  the 
Word,  and  the  Word  was  God ! 

Give  another  instance:  "He  that  hath  the  bride  is  the 
bridegroom — this  my  joy  therefore  is  fulfilled."  The  Church 
is  the  Bride,  and  Christ  is  the  bridegroom.  He  will  baptize 
with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  fire."  and  then  both  the  "  Spirit 
and  the  Bride  will  sa}^  come."    Rev.  22:17. 

Was  John's  baptism  Christian  baptism?    It  was  not. 

What  is  Christian  baj^tism,  as  literally  instituted  in  the 
Greek  language  by  our  Saviour  in  St.  Matt.  28:19,  20  ?  "Go  ye 
therefore,  and  make  disciples  of  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in 
the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  teaching  them 
to  observe,"  etc. 

When  was  the  Holy  Ghost  given  ?  On  the  day  of  Pentecost 
after  our  Saviour  had  ascended  into  heaven.    Acts  2:2-4. 

How  do  you  know  the  Holy  Ghost  was  not  given  prior  to 
this  time  ?  '  From  St.  John  7:39  :  "  Thus  spoke  he  of  the  Spirit 
which  they  that  believe  on  him  should  receive,  for  the  Holy 
Ghost  was  not  yet  given  because  that  Jesus  was  not  yet  glori- 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


fied,"  and  from  xlcts  1-5  :  John  truly  baptized  with  water, 
but  ye  shall  be  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost  not  many  days 
hence."  Also  from  John's  own  words  quoted  above.  8t. 
Matt.  3:11. 

Why,  then  was  John's  haptism  not  Christian  baptism  f  Be- 
cause it  was  not  baptism  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost. 

Give  some  further  proofs  of  this  fact?  In  Acts  18:24-26,  we 
read  of  Apollos,  an  eloquent  man,  etc.,  who  knew  only  the  bap- 
tism of  John  :  Aquila  and  Priscilla  expounded  unto  him  the 
way  of  God  more  perfectly y 

Name  another  instance  :  In  Acts  19:1-5,  we  read  of  those 
who,  although  these  were  the  days  of  the  Spirit,  having  been 
baptized  with  John's  baptism,  "  Had  not  so  much  as  heard 
whether  there  be  any  Holy  Ghost."  Although  they  had  been 
baptized  with  John's  baptism  they  w^ere  baptized  over  again 
^*  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus." 

What  do  these  instances  abundantly  prove  ?  That  it  is  a 
fearful  error  to  substitute  John's  baptism  with  water  unto  re- 
pentance, for  Christ's  baptism  with  water  and  the  Holy  Ghost. 
He  being  now  exalted  as  a  Prince  and  Saviour  not  only  to  give 
repentance^  but  also  remission  of  sins^  and  all  the  gifts  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.    Acts  5:31. 


ARTICLE  SECOND. 


The  Baptism  of  our  Saviour  hy  John  the  Baptist. 

What  baptism  did  John  the  Baptist  administer  ?  He  bap- 
tized unto  repentance.    St.  Matt.  3:11. 

What  is  true  repentance  ?    To  be  sorry  for  sin,  and  to  forsake 

it. 

Who  came  to  be  baptized  of  him  ?  Our  blessed  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 

Who  was  and  is  Jesus  Christ  ?  He  was  and  is  both  God  and 
man. 

Had  he  committed  any  sin  ?  No.  He  was  the  spotless 
Lamb  of  God. 


6 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


Why,  then,  should  he  be  baptized  with  John's  baptism  unto 
repentance  ?  He  was  not  baptized  with  John's  baptism  unto 
repentance. 

Why,  then,  was  he  bax^tized  ?  To  fulfill  all  righteousness. 
St.  Matt.  3:15. 

What  does  this  mean  ?  Our  Saviour  came  not  to  destroy  the 
law,  but  to  fulfill  it.  St.  Matt.  5:17.  He  died  on  the  cross  to 
fulfill  that  requirement  of  the  law  which  declared  that,  "  With- 
out the  shedding  of  blood  there  is  no  remission."  Hebs.  9:22. 
And  by  his  passive  obedience  in  this  and  other  respects,  he 
suifered  all  that  the  law  required  in  the  way  of  penalty  for  the 
sins  of  men. 

What  else  did  the  law  require  ?  Active  obedience  :  i.  g.,  that 
all  its  Geremonial  enactments  should  be  fulfilled. 

Name  some  of  these  ceremonial  enactments.  Divers  w^ash- 
ings.  Hebs.  9:10.  Greek :  Diverse  baptisms,  i.  e.,  difi'erent 
kinds  of  baptisms. 

AVhat  was  one  of  the  most  important  of  these  difi'erent  kinds 
of  baptisms  ?  That  bv  which  the  priest  was  consecrated.  Ex. 
29:4;  Lev.  8:5-6;  Nums.  8:6-7. 

How  is  it  expressly  stated  in  these  places  the  water  was  to 
be  applied?    By  sprinkling,  etc. 

What  does  the  picture  in  Mosaic  found  in  the  church  erected 
at  Ravenna  in  -401  represent  ?  Our  Saviour  is  standing  in  the 
water,  and  John,  standing  on  a  rock,  pours  from  a  shell  the 
water  on  the  Redeemer's  head. 

Painted  on  the  rocky  side  of  the  chapel  discovered  in  the 
catacombs  of  Rome,  what  do  we  find?  A  representation  by  a 
Christian  of  the  second  century  of  the  Saviour's  baptism  by 
John  :  our  blessed  Lord  is  standing  in  the  river  Jordan  :  John, 
not  himself  in  the  stream,  but,  standing  on  the  brink,  pours 
with  his  hand  the  water  on  the  Saviour's  head.  (Dr.  Fuller's 
Loutron.) 

What  did  this  baptism  of  our  blessed  Lord  signify?  It  was 
the  regular  legal  means  by  which  he  was  admitted  into  the 
Jewish  priesthood,  by  which  he  fulfilled  this  portion  of  the 
ceremonial  law,  and  by  which  he  submitted  himself  to  be  out- 
wardly ordained. 

How  do  vou  know  this?  From  our  blessed  Lord  himself,  and 
from  the  scriptures.  See  St.  Matt.  21:23-27  ;  St.  Mark  11:27-33  ; 
St.  Luke  20:2-8,  etc.  Here  yow  will  perceive  the  question  of 
authority  was  raised  by  the  Jews.  Our  Saviour  settled  it  by 
referring  to  his  ordination.  We  must  be  careful  not  to  con- 
found the    baptism  of  John,"  spoken  of  by  our  Saviour  in 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


7 


these  verses,  with  "John's  baptism  unto  repentance."  The 
sole  question  here  raised  was  as  to  the  Saviour's  autliority. 
"J'or  as  no  man  taketh  this  honor  upon  himself,  but  he  that  is 
called  of  God  as  was  Aaron ;  so  also  our  blessed  Lord  glorified 
not  himself  to  be  made  an  highpriest,  but  he  that  said  unto 
him,  Thou  art  mv  Son,  this  dav  have  I  begotten  thee."  Hebs. 
5:4,  5. 

What  error  is  sometimes  made  in  speaking  of  the  Saviour's 
baptism?  It  is  mentioned  as  an  example  to  us,  whereas  He 
himself  declares  it  w^as  to ''fulfill  all  righteousness."  So  far 
as  any  argument  of  example  may  be  adduced  from  the  mere 
fact  of  our  Saviour's  baptism,  it  is  as  fully  obligatory  upon  us 
to  be  circnmcised  as  it  is  to  be  haptized'^  for  he  submitted  to 
each  of  these  requirements,  that  he  might  fulfill  the  righteous- 
ness of  the  Jewish  law  by  his  active  obedience. 

What  is  the  "example"  declared  by  the  scriptures  to  have 
been  left  us  by  our  blessed  Lord  ?  Read  carefully  1st  Peter 
2:21-23.  He  did  not  intend  for  us  to  be  ahvays  trying  to  fulfill 
the  law  by  being  circumcised,  ordained  to  the  Jewish  priest- 
hood, or  nailed  to  the  cross.  He  fulfilled  all  these  require- 
ments himself,  for  He  fulfilled  every  jot  and  tittle  of  the  law. 
St.  Matt.  5:17,  18.  He  now  offers  through  a  faithful  use  of  the 
sacrements  of  the  Church  to  impute  to  us  His  obedience,  and 
to  impart  to  us  His  righteousness. 


: — 0 — :• 


ARTICLE  THIRD. 


What  is  Christian  Baptism  f 

Of  Tvhat  covenant  do  we  read  in  the  17th  chap.  Genesis?  Of 
the  covenant  God  made  with  Abraham  and  his  seed  after  him. 

What  was  to  be  the  duration  of  the  covenant  ?  It  was  an 
everlasting  covenant.    Gen.  17:7. 

What  is  meant  by  the  here?  Christ  and  his  mystical 
body  the  church. 

How  do  you  know  this  ?    From  Galatians  3:16  and  id.  29. 

Was  the  Gospel  preached  to  Abraham  ?    It  was  Gal.  3:8. 


8 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


Where  else  is  Christ  called  the    seed?"    Gen.  3:15. 

What  is  the  term  applied  to  the  covenant  made  with 
Abraham  ?  Everlasting.  See  Hebs.  13:20,  Isaiah  55:3,  id.  61:8, 
Ezek.  16:60. 

Where,  also,  do  we  read  of  this  covenant  ?    St.  Luke  1:72,73. 

Where  is  our  Saviour  expressly  called  "  the  messenger  of 
the  covenant?    Malachi  3:1. 

What  was,  originally,  the  mode  of  admission  into  this  ever- 
lasting covenant  ?    Circumcision.    Gen.  17:7-10. 

Was  this  covenant  at  that  time  unlimited  in  its  application  ? 
No,  it  was  confined  to  one  nation,  the  Jews — and  to  the  males 
of  that  nation. 

Did  the  lavj^  which  was  430  years  after,  annul  this  conve- 
nant?    No!    See  Gal.  3:17. 

Wherefore  then  serveth  the  law  ?  It  was  added  because  of 
transgressions,  till  the  seed  (Christ)  should  come  to  whom  the 
promise  was  made»    Gal.  3:19. 

Could  the  law  give  eternal  life?    It  could  not.    Gal.  3:21. 

When  Christ,  the  promissd  seed,  came,  what  took  place? 
The  covenant  was  then  expressly  declared  to  include  all 
nations:  "For  in  Christ  Jesus  there  is  neither  Barbarian, 
Scythian,  bond  nor  free,  male  nor  female,  Jew  nor  Greek,  but 
Christ  is  all,  and  in  all."    Col.  3:11. 

Was  circumcision  discontinued  by  the  early  Christians  as  the 
mode  of  admission  into  the  everlasting  covenant?    It  was. 

How  do  you  know  this  ?    From  Acfs  15;  Gal.  5:2,  6:12-14. 

Why  was  it  discontinued  ?  It  was  too  narrow  and  limited 
in  its  operation  :  it  could  not  include  females  in  its  terms  ;  it 
was  restricted  to  the  Jewish  race  ;  Christ  was  to  gather  all 
nations  into  the  everlasttng  covenant,  for  In  thy  seed  (^.  e., 
Christ)  shall  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  be  blessed." 

What  was  substituted  in  the  place  of  circumcision  as  the 
means  of  admission  into  the  everlasting  covenant?  Baptism. 

How  do  you  know  this  ?  From  many  passages  of  scripture, 
and  especially  from  Col.  2:11-12,  where  baptism  is  expressly 
called  "circumcision  made  without  hands. 

What,  then,  is  Christian  baptism  ?  It  is  that  divine  ordin- 
ance established  by  our  Saviour  to  go  into  operation,  and  to 
take  effect  after  He  returned  to  heaven  and  sent  the  Holy 
Ghost,  by  wiiich  we  are  born  again  of  water  and  the  Spirit  into 
that  everlasting  covenant  offered  to  all  mankind  through  the 
blood  and  merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  its  mediator,  in  the  name  of 
the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost. 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


9 


ARTICLE  FOURTH. 


The  Mode  of  Baptism. 

Has  the  Saviour  ordained  any  particular  mode  of  applying 
the  water  in  baptism  ?    He  has  not. 

What  may  we  infer  from  this?  That  the  quantity  of  water 
is  not  important. 

How  then  should  the  water  be  applied  in  baptism?  In  any 
desirable  or  convenient  way — by  pouring,  sprinkling,  or  im- 
mersion. 

What  remarkable  fact  should  arrest  our  attention?  Where 
dipping  is  undeniably  meant  in  the  New  Testament,  lapto^  and 
not  haptizo,  is  employed.  See  Matthew  26:  23  ;  Mark  14:  20  ; 
Luke  16:  24  ;  John  13:  26  ;  Revelation  19: 13,  whereas  haptizo  is 
always  used  to  signify  baptism." 

How  mauv  meaninij:s  has  the  word  ''baptizo?"  At  least 
fifty. 

Mention  some  of  these.  It  means  to  pour,  to  dip,  to 
sprinkle,  etc. 

What  conclusion  may  be  fairly  deduced  from  these  premises? 
If  immersion  is  the  only  form  of  baptism,  surely  our  Saviour,  in 
speaking  of  baptism,  would  not  continually  and  always  omit 
the  use  of  a  word  which  means  nothing  besides  immersion,  and 
constantly  employ  a  word  which  has  fifty  other  meanings ;  the 
conclusion,  then,  is  inevitable  :  He  never  intended  to  confine 
the  rite  of  baptism  to  any  such  contracted  limits. 

Is  there  any  undeniable  instances  of  immersion  in  the  New 
Testament?    Only  that  recorded  in  St.  Matthew  8:  32. 

Does  not  the  scripture  say  :  "  John  was  baptizing  in  Enon 
because  there  was  much  water  there  ?  No  ;  it  is  a  wrong  trans- 
lation. The  Greek  is  "  many  waters,"  i.  e.,  springs.  St. 
John  3:  23. 

Did  not  Philip  immerse  the  eunuch?  It  is  contrary  to  sound 
reason  to  suppose  he  did. 

How  so  ?  The  eunuch  was  reading  from  the  prophet  Isaiah  ; 
he  desired  instruction  which  Philip  gave ;  he  then  requested 
baptism  as  the  result  of  what  he  had  just  learned.  Now  turn 
to  the  portion  of  Isaiah  he  was  reading,  and,  remembering  that 
the  Bible  was  not  then  divided  into  chapters,  you  will  find  he 
had  just  read  (see  52d  and  53d  chapters)  that  Christ  would 
sprinkle  many  nations." 

What  is  a  very  violent  sui)position  ?    That  the  eunuch  had 


10 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


just  read  that  Christ  would  sprinkle  "  many  nations,  and  then 
immediately  desire  to  be  baptized  by  immersion. 

Do  the  scriptures  expressly  declare  there  are  different  modes 
of  Baptism  ?    They  do. 

Where?  In  Hebrews  9:10,  where  the  words  ''divers  wash- 
ings "  mean,  in  the  original  Greek,    different  baptisms." 

Were  some  of  these  certainly  performed  by  sprinkling^? 
They  were.    See  Nums.  8:7,  and  throughout  the  Old  Testament. 

What  remarkable  language  do  we  find  in  Ezek.  36:25-30? 
Every  blessing,  spiritual  and  temporal,  is  promised  in  terms 
which  cannot  be  more  explicit  or  desirable. 

From  what  were  these  blessings  all  to  flow  ?  From  Water 
and  the  Spirit. 

How  is  it  expressly  stated  the  water  is  to  be  applied  ?  The 
water  is  to  be  sprinkled.    See  verse  25. 

What  has  recently  been  discovered  in  the  ruins  of  an  ancient 
European  church  ?  A  genuine  Bajjtistery  of  the  earliest 
centuries. 

Describe  this.  It  is  about  four  feet  high,  and  three  feet  in 
diameter.  The  interior  center  of  the  font  is  of  the  same 
height  as  the  outer  rim,  and  slopes  gradually  to  the  rim. 
Within  this  rim,  in  a  channel  which  recedes  gradually  to  the 
centre  of  the  font,  the  water  flows  in  a  stream  six  inches  wide. 

What  is  the  only  way  the  water  could  have  been  applied? 
The  candidates  for  baptism  knelt  or  stood  around,  or  were  held 
in  the  arms  of  the  baptizer  while  the  water  was  applied  with 
the  hand  by  pouring  or  sprinkling. 

Where  were  the  ancient  Christians  compelled  to  secrete 
themselves  from  the  fury  of  heathen  persecutors?  In  the 
catacombs  of  Rome. 

What  are  the  dimensions  and  age  of  the  Baptistery  recently 
discovered  there  in  the  chapel  which  has  been  unknown  for  a 
thousand  years?  It  is  two  feet  long,  two  [feet  deep,;^and;^two 
feet  wide,  and  is  at  least  sixteen  hundred  years  old. 

Who  only  could  have  been  immersed  in  this  Baptistery  ? 
Infants. 

When  we  read  :  Buried  with  Christ  in  Baptism,"  is  a  literal 
burial  intended?  No;  the  expression  is  figurative.  Christ 
was  buried  in  the  tomb  of  Joseph  of  Arimathea  :  this  tomb 
was  above  the  ground,  hewn  out  of  the  rock.  Thus  we  are 
said  to  be  "crucified  with  Christ,'-  but  a  literal  crucifixion  is 
not  intended — a  mortification  of  our  lusts  is  meant  by  both 
expressions. 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


11 


What  instance  of  Baptism  could  not  have  been  bv  immers- 
ion ?    1  Oor.  10:2  ;  Psa.  66:6  ;  Ex.  14:29. 

Why  could  this  have  not  been  by  immersion  ?  They  walked 
upon  dry  land.    Ex.  14:29. 

When  were  the  apostles  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost?  On 
the  Day  of  Pentecost. 

How  were  they  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost?  Cloven 
tongues,  like  as  of  fire,  sat  upon  them.    Acts  2:3. 

What  is  here  narrated?  A  positive  and  indisputable  in- 
stance where  Baptism  was  not  by  immersion,  the  cloven 
tongues  representing  rather  the  drops  of  water. 

What filled  the  room  "  on  this  occasion  ?  The  sound  of  a 
rushing,  mighty  wind.'' 

What,  in  fact,  is  all  the  controversy  and  confusion  created 
by  the  immersion  theory?    Merely  sound,  and  nothing  more. 

Where  did  our  Saviour  rebuke  the  tendency  to  rely  too  much 
on  the  quantity  of  water  or  washing?  In  John  13:10,  where 
He  assures  Peter  that  a  man  may  be  every  whit  clean,  though 
only  a  part  be  washed. 

What  has  been  the  result  of  the  contention  and  strife  about 
the  dip  theory?  The  whole  controversy  about  Baptism  has 
shifted  from  an  important  fact  (the  authority  of  the  Church, 
and  of  the  Baptizer)  to  a  frivolous  and  umimportant  point — 
the  quantity  of  water  used. 

Who  have  authority  to  Baptize  ?  Those  whom  Christ  has 
commissioned. 

Have  any  others  authority  ?  We  do  not  decide  that  point. 
In  the  Apostolic  Church  we  know  we  have  that  authority,  and 
are  anxious  that  all  should  avail  themselves  of  the  advantages 
offered  by  the  Church  of  the  Living  God — the  Bod}"  of  Christ 
on  earth — the  Pillar  and  Ground  of  the  Truth. 

How  do  you  know  that  you  have  authority  in  the  Church  ? 
Because  her  ministers  trace  their  commissions  back  to  the  only 
One  who  ever  had  authority  originally  to  send  out  ministers 
— our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  himself. 

Who  originated  the  society  of  Christians  who  now  hold  the 
doctrine  of  immersion  as  the  only  form  of  Baptism?  Roger 
Williams  and  Ezekiel  Holloman,  in  1639. 

Who  was  Ezekiel  Holloman  ?  An  unbaptized  man,  not  a 
member  of  any  church. 

How  did  he  start  the  new  society?  He  immersed  Roger 
Williams. 

What  did  Roger  Williams  then  do  ?  He  immersed  Ezekiel 
Holloman. 


12 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


Why  did  he  do  this?  Because  the  new  faith  of  the  new 
society  was  that  unless  a  man  was  immersed  by  a  man  who 
had  been  himself  immersed  he  was  not  properly  immersed. 

What  was  the  difficulty  here?  They -stultified  themselves: 
for  according  to  their  own  theory  neither  of  them  was  properly 
immersed. 

How  so?  Why,  when  Holloman  immersed  Williams,  Wil- 
liams was  immersed  by  a  man  who  had  not  been  himself  im- 
mersed— and  therefore,  according  to  the  Baptist  theory,  Wil- 
liams was  not  properly  immersed  ;  and  when  Williams,  in  turn, 
immersed  Holloman,  Holloman  was  immersed  by  a  man  who 
had  never  been  properly  immersed  and,  therefore  (also,  accord- 
ing to  the  Baptist  theory)  Holloman  was  not  properly  im- 
mersed. 

What  (still  according  to  their  own  theory)  is  the  logical  and 
inevitable  result  ?    The  Baptists  are  without  any  Baptism  at  all. 

If  immersion  of  adult  believers  by  a  minister  who  was  him- 
self immersed  as  an  adult  believer  be  the  only  proper  Baptism, 
what  necessarily  follows?  There  were  no  proper  baptisms  in 
the  world  from  the  death  of  the  Apostles  for  1600  years,  for 
infant  Baptism  universally  obtained  throughout  the  world  for 
that  length  of  time,  and  no  manner  or  mode  of  applying  the 
water  was  prescribed. 

What  further  follows  ?  There  is  no  proper  Baptism  on  earth 
to-day  :  For  Williams  and  Holloman,  as  we  have  shown,  w^ere 
not  immersed  properly  according  to  the  Baptist  theory. 

What  does  all  this  show  ?  That  God  confounds  the  ways  of 
those  who  refuse  to  hear  the  Church. 

What  else  does  it  show  ?  That  the  Dip-theory  (Diphtheria  ?) 
is  bad  for  adults,  as  well  as  for  children. 

From  whence,  then,  do  the  Baptists  derive  all  the  ministerial 
authority  they  possess  ?  From  Roger  Williams,  a  clergyman 
of  the  Church  of  England  (known  in  this  country  as  ''The 
Episcopal  Church.") 

What  is  the  Christian  Church  ?  It  is  ''  The  Body  of  Christ," 
(Eph.  1:23;  Col.  1:24)  the  Pillar  and  Ground  of  the  Truth," 
(1  Tim.  3:15  ;  Acts  20:28)  The  Church  of  the  Living  God,  not 
the  society  of  a  dead  man. 

Did  Williams  have  any  right  or  authority  to  ordain  clergy 
or  start  a  church  ?  No  more  than  he  had  to  consecrate  the 
devil  and  start  a  new  Gehenna. 

Why  do  you  say  this  ?  Because  Williams  belonged  to  the 
second  order  of  the  ministry,  and  these  have  no  authority  to 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


13 


ordain.  After  all  their  mutual  interbaptizations,  Williams 
and  Holloman  had  no  more  authority  to  ordain  ministers  than 
had  any  other  unauthorized  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

What  also  necessarily  follows  ?  As  a  stream  cannot  rise 
higher  than  its  source,  it  follows  that  every  member  of  the 
Episcopal  Church — male,  and  female,  and  infants — have  the 
same  ministerial  authority,  in  kind  and  degree,  as  have  the 
Baptist  ministers. 

Why  do  you  say  this?  Because  all  the  authority  the  Baptist 
ministers  have,  they  received,  originally,  from  being  baptized 
by  an  Episcopal  preacher ;  and  therefore  every  person  baptized 
by  an  Episcopal  preacher  has  the  same  authority  to  start  a 
church  as  has  a  Baptist  minister. 

But,  in  fact,  who  only  have  authority  to  ordain  ?  The  Bishops 
of  the  Church  of  God — the  first  order  of  the  Christian  ministry 
— the  successors  of  the  Apostles. 

Was  Williams  a  Bishop  ?  No !  he  belonged  to  the  second 
order  of  the  ministry,  while  Holloman  was  not  even  a  Christian 
(?'.  e.,  a  member  of  the  Church)  when  he  pretended  to  baptize 
and  ordain  Williams  ;  he  was  never  baptized  until  after  he  had 
immersed  Williams,  when  AVilliams  immersed  him. 

How  have  our  Baptist  brethren  strongly  testified  to  the 
validity  of  the  authority  of  the  Church  of  God  ?  They  are  well 
satisfied  with  the  validity  of  ministerial  orders  which  have  de- 
scended from  an  eccentric  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England, 
who  had  no  authority  to  convey  them,  and  the  so-called  Bap- 
tist Church  is  thus  the  illegitimate  off'spring  of  a  faithless 
Episcopal  preacher.    Deut.  23:2. 

What  is  a  strange  fact?  That  we  should  find  (as  w^e  do) 
some  intelligent  and  pious  people  in  such  an  organization. 

Is  there  any  valid  account  of  any  body  of  Christians  who  held 
the  present  Baptist  tenets  before  the  time  of  Roger  Williams  and 
Ezekiel  Holloman?  No!  There  are  a  few  isolated  instances 
scattered  several  centuries  apart,  of  eccentric  characters  who 
held  some  of  the  present  Baptist  theories,  e.  g.,  Photius  denied 
Baptism  to  infants  because  he  maintained  they  all,  who  died, 
went  to  hell,  as  they  couldn't  have  faith,  and  ''without  Faith 
it  was  impossible  to  please  God,"  and  it  is  maintained  that  a 
few  of  the  ignorant  and  deluded  Waldenses  and  Albigenses 
have  never,  like  Apollos,  had  the  opportunity  of  hearing  any- 
thing but  John's  Baptism,  and  need  to  be  instructed  more 
perfectly.  (See  Acts  18:26).  But  it  is  an  undeniable  fact  that 
the  fearful  heresy  which  denies  the  right  of  infants  in  the 


14 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


covenant  of  God,  and  restricts  the  grace  of  Christ  to  one  mode 
of  Baptism,  and  that  to  be  administered  by  an  individual  who 
has  no  authority  to  baptize  anybody — is  a  modern  invention 
of  the  17th  century,  which  owes  its  growth  to  the  schisms  and 
divisions  in  the  Christian  Church. 

Where  do  we  find  the  peculiar  tenets  of  the  Baptist  society. 
(i.  e.,  close  communion,  one  mode  of  administering  Baptism,  and 
denial  of  God's  covenant  to  infants)  evidently  foretold  in 
Scripture?    Rev.  13:17. 

What  should  be  the  humiliating  reflection  of  Baptist  min 
isters  ?  That  while  all  the  Apostolic  churches,  for  centuries, 
in  persecutions  of  blood,  fire,  and  wild  beasts,  were  con 
tending  for  the  Faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints,  and 
preaching  Christ  crucified  to  the  heathen  world,  the  histories 
of  the  Baptist  society  can  only  show  the  mighty  eff'ort  and 
contention  of  an  occasional  heretic  to  restrain  God's  free 
sacrament  cf  water  to  a  narrow  channel,  and  to  deprive  the 
little  children  of  the  blessings  of  Christ's  covenant ;  while  no 
organized  society  endeavored  to  perpetuate  such  deplorable 
doctrines  until  Williams  and  Holloman,  with  the  Red  man  as 
their  principal  dupe,  organized  in  1639  the  present  Baptist 
church. 

 : — 0 — :  

ARTICLE  FIFTH. 


Who  Should  he  Baptized  f 

Who  were,  expressly,  by  name,  ordered  by  Almighty  God 
to  be  placed  in  the  everlasting  covenant  made  by  him  with 
Abraham  and  his  seed  ?  Male  children  eight  davs  old.  Gen. 
17:9-14. 

Who  do  the  scriptures  declare  this  ''seed''  was?  Christ. 
Gal.  3:16. 

Were  children  initiated  into  this  covenant  at  that  age  ?  They 
were.    Gen.  17:10. 

Where  are  the  little  ones  particularly  mentioned  as  partici- 
pating with  their  elders  in  the  covenant  ?    Deut.  29:10-14. 

What  is  remarkable  about  the  covenant  of  circumcision  ? 
It  was  a  siyn  of  the  Faith  which  Abraham  had,  yet  being  un- 
circumcised,  (Roms.  4:11)  and  yet  children  ivere  especially 
ordered  to  he  admitted  at  the  age  of  eight  days. 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


15 


What  would  be  the  extraordinary  condition  of  affairs  if 
children  were  not  admitted  into  the  covenant  under  the  Gospel  ? 
It  would  prove  that  Abraham  and  Moses  were  superior  to 
Christ;  that  the  limited  covenant  was  wider  in  its  application 
than  when  it  became  unlimited;  that  when  the  covenant  w^as 
extended  to  include  Barbarians,  Scythians,  bond  and  free, 
Jews  and  Greeks,  male  and  female,  it  was  to  be  restricted  in 
regard  to  children,  it  would  prove  that  the  Law  was  more 
merciful  than  the  Gospel,  and  that  the  blood  of  bulls  and  of 
goats  was  of  greater  efficacy  than  the  blood  of  Christ!  How 
should  such  nonsense  be  characterized?  As  preposterous  and 
absurd. 

Did  our  blessed  Lord  ever  show  any  inclination  to  neglect 
children,  or  to  diminish  their  privileges?  On  the  contrary  He 
was  much  displeased  at  anv  effort  to  keep  them  from  him. 
St.  Mark  10:14-16;  St.  Luke  18:1 5-17. 

What  must  we  especially  notice  in  these  passages  ?  That 
although  these  infants  were  broughU  the  Saviour  declares  they 
thereby  came  to  him. 

What  have  we  already  shown  to  be  the  meaning,  generally, 
of  the  t<?rm  "kingdom  of  Heaven?''    The  Christian  Church. 

What  does  our  Saviour  declare  in  St.  Matt.  18:1-6  ?  That 
unless  we  become  as  little  children  we  shall  not  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  Heaven. 

What  does  this  prove  ?  That  little  children  already  are 
exactly  what  an  unbeliever  must  become  {i.  e.,  humble,  gentle, 
truthful,  etc.)  before  he  should  be  admitted  to  the  full  fellow- 
ship of  the  Church  militant  or  the  Church  triumphant. 

What,  in  fact,  is  the  doctrine  of  those  who  refuse  children 
admittance  into  the  Church  ?  That  a  person  is  fit  for  Heaven, 
but  not  fit  for  the  Baptist  Church. 

What  is,  alone,  sufficient  to  decide  the  question  of  infant 
Baptism  ?    Our  Saviour's  words  to  Nicodemus.    St.  John  3:5. 

What  are  they  ?  Except  any  one  be  born  of  water  and  the 
Spirit,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God." 

Why  do  you  use  the  words  "any  one,"  when  the  Testament 
says  *' a  man?"  Because  the  Greek  language,  in  which  the 
Testament  was  written,  and  in  which  our  Saviour  spoke,  says 
"any  one." 

What  is,  also,  especially  remarkable  in  this  passage  ?  Water 
is  placed  before  Spirit :  we  must  be  born  of  water  and  the 
Spirit,  not  of  the  Spirit  and  water. 

What  is  the  literal  wording  (in  Greek)  of  the  original  com- 


16 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


mission  o^iven  by  our  blessed  Lord  to  his  Apostles,  in  St.  Matt. 
28:19,  20?  ''Go  ye,  therefore,  and  make  disciples  of  all  nations, 
baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
Ghost,  teaching  them  to  observe,"  etc.  What  must  we  ex- 
pressly notice  here  ?  They  were  first  to  disciple  all  nations  by 
baptizing  them,  then  to  teach  them. 

Is  there  any  exclusion  of  infants  intimated  or  intended  here  ? 
No. 

Why,  then,  are  they  not  mentioned  ?  It  was  no  more  neces- 
sary to  specify  infants  in  this  commission  than  it  was  to  specify 
men  and  women.  Infants  were  already  being  admitted  into 
the  covenant  by  circumcision,  and  the  expression  all  nations," 
positively  included  them. 

What  is  a  further  reason  why  they  are  not  mentioned? 
When  the  gospel  was  first  preached,  it  was  necessary  that  it 
should  be  proclaimed  to  those  who  could  accept  or  reject  it — 
who  could  believe  or  disbelieve  it;  but  nowhere  is  it  ever 
intimated  that,  on  their  acceptance  of  it,  their  children  would 
not  be  capable  of  its  privileges.  On  the  contrary,  an  express 
injunction  would  have  been  necessary  to  restrain  those  from 
placing  their  children  in  the  new  covenant  who  had  always 
been  accustomed  to  place  them  in  the  old  covenant.  Acting 
on  this  very  commission,  we  find  the  Apostle  Peter,  in  the 
very  first  sermon  he  preached,  going  outside  of  his  immediate 
argument  in  order  to  show  that  children  were  included  in  the 
gospel  covenant  :  The  promise  is  to  vou  and  to  vour  children." 
Acts  2:39. 

What  was  foretold  of  the  Good  Shepherd  ?  '*  He  shall  gather 
the  lambs  in  His  arms,  and  carrv  them  in  His  bosom."  Isaiah 
40:11. 

For  how  long  a  period  after  our  Saviours  death  did  all 
Christians  eagerly  bring  their  children  to  baptism?  For 
nearly  1700  years. 

How  manv  nominal  Christians  are  supposed  to  be  in  the 
world  at  present  ?    About  450,000,000. 

Of  these  how  manv  now  practice  infant  baptism?  About 
440,000,000. 

Is  there  any  promise  in  the  gospel  to  an  unbaptized  person? 
No  ;  the  promises  are  to  those  who  are  in  the  covenant. 

Do  we  say,  then,  that  unbaptized  infants  are  lost  ?  No  ;  we 
trust  they  may  be  saved,  but  they  are  left  to  the  uncovenanted 
mercies  of  God. 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


IT 


What  are  those  imcovenanted  mercies?    No  one  knows. 

Are  there  striking  instances  in  scripture  where  God  remem- 
bered to  their  advantage  the  covenant  made  with  His  people  ? 
Yes,  in  Lev.  26:44,  45,  and  Ex.  2:24,  25. 

Are  there  instances  in  scripture  where  He  denounced 
vengeance  against  even  infants  outside  of  His  covenant  ?  Yes. 
Gen.  1T:14. 

What  should  this  instance  be  to  us  ?  A  terrible  warning 
against  trifling  with  God's  off'er  to  adopt  our  children  into  His 
covenant. 

What  do  the  scriptures  declare  in  I  Cor.  15:22  ?  "  In  Adam 
all  die ;  in  Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive.'' 

Are  all  mankind  born  "  m  Adam.''    They  are. 

How  only  can  they  be  ''in  Christ^''  ?  By  being  born  again 
of  water  and  the  Spirit,  i.  e.^  by  being  baptized. 

What  is  the  only  meritorious  cause  of  our  salvation  ?  The 
blood  and  merits  of  Jesus. 

What  is  the  applying  cause  of  our  salvation  ?  The  Holy 
Spirit  which  dwells  in  the  Body  of  Christ  on  earth — the 
Church  of  God. 

How  does  the  Church  apply  to  every  individual  the  benefits 
of  Christ's  redemption  ?  By  Baptism,  Confirmation,  the  Lord's 
Supper,  etc.,  etc. 

What  solemn  injunction  did  our  Saviour  give  to  his  disciples  ? 
"  Feed  my  larnhs^^''  St.  John  21:15,  as  well  as  His  sheep. 

How  long  has  the  world  been  created  ?    About  6,000  years. 

Has  God  had  a  Church  in  the  world  all  this  time?    He  has. 

Have  infants  always  been  admitted  into  it  ?  Always,  until 
in  recent  years  the  sect  was  started  by  Williams  and  Holloman 
which  refuses  to  admit  children  to  God's  covenant. 

What  must  we  think  of  those  who  try  to  keep  the  little 
children  from  God's  covenant  ?  We  must  be  sorry  for  them, 
and  especially  for  the  little  helpless  children  who  are  thus 
cruelly  wronged,  and  deprived  of  the  blessing  Christ  is  ready 
and  anxious  to  give  them.  And  we  should  constantly  pray 
that  God  would  remove  all  error,  and  prejudice,  and  ignorance, 
from  the  pastors  who  guide  them,  and  make  them  both  afraid 
and  ashamed  to  put  their  individual  private  opinions,  in  a 
matter  so  vital  as  the  eternal  welfare  of  a  human  soul,  against 
the  decisions  of  the  councils  of  the  universal  Church  of  God. 
guided  by  the  Spirit  of  God  into  all  truth. 

Is  it  charitable  to  speak  thus  ?    Yes ;  for  we  should  be 


18 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


jealous  and  zealous  of  the  rights  of  the  little  ones ;  charity 
concerns,  not  the  opinions^  but  the  persons^  of  men.  While  we 
abhor  the  opinions  of  those  who  would  keep  our  little  children 
from  God's  covenanted  promises,  we  should  love  their  persons 
and  pray  for  their  salvation  from  error;  just  as  missionaries 
jeopardize  their  lives  to  convert  the  heathen,  yet  abhor  the 
fiendish  cruelty  which  makes  them  throw  their  helpless  off- 
spring to  the  crocodiles  of  the  Ganges. 

Are  we  to  doubt  the  sincerity  of  those  ministers  who  deprive 
infants  of  Baptism?  No;  he  must  be  fearfully  sincere  who 
will  thrust  a  little  child  away  from  covenanted  mercies,  and 
forbid  it  to  come  to  the  arms  of  Jesus. 

What  is  a  dreadful  responsibility  for  any  minister  of  the 
gospel  to  assume?  To  lead  the  flock  contrary  to  the  teachings 
of  our  blessed  Lord,  the  Apostles,  and  the  whole  Christian 
Church,  for  nearly  1700  years,  and  contrary  to  the  teachings 
of  nearly  the  whole  Christian  Church  now ;  and  to  deprive  the 
little  children  of  the  spiritual  birthright  which  God  off'ers  to 
them — to  drive  the  little  ones  from  the  fold,  and  to  starve  the 
shelterless  lambs  of  Christ's  flock. 

What  is  almost  as  dreadful  as  this?  That  any  parents  who 
love  their  children  will  listen  to  any  such  brutal  doctrines. 

What  settles,  absolutely,  the  question  of  Infant  Baptism  ? 
The  decision  of  the  Council  of  Carthage,  about  A.  D.  264. 

Who  were  then  assembled  at  Carthage?  Representatives 
from  the  Christian  Church  throughout  the  world. 

Why  was  this  council  assembled?  Because  Fidus,  one  of 
the  Bishops,  maintained  that  as  Baptism  had  taken  the  place 
of  circumcision,  it  was  not  valid  unless  administered  on  the 
8th  day. 

What  was  their  unanimous  decision  ?  That  although  Baptism 
had  taken  the  place  of  circumcision  as  the  initiatory  rite  into 
the  Church  of  God,  and  as  the  mode  of  admission  into  God's 
covenant,  it  was  not  necessary  for  the  child  to  be  baptized  on 
the  eighth  day  after  its  birth,  but  that  it  should  be  baptized 
even  before,  if  possible — that  Baptism  must  not  be  deferred 
longer  than  the  eighth  day,  and  if  there  be  any  danger  of  death 
the  child  may  and  must  be  baptized  sooner. 

What  eff'ect  will  a  careful  and  prayerful  consideration  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  Council  of  Carthage  produce?  It  will  com- 
pel any  unprejudiced  parents  to  bring  their  children  to  Baptism. 

Why  do  you  say  this  ?    Because  it  is  incredible  that  any 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


19 


reflecting  parents  would  deprive  their  own  ofl*spring  of  a 
blessing  which  is  shown  by  the  Council  of  Carthage  to  have 
been  universal  in  the  Church  of  God,  even  in  the  days  of  the 
Apostles. 

What  is  the  most  astounding  appeal  ever  made  to  the 
credulity  of  mankind  ?  That  we  should  believe  that  the  entire 
Christian  Church,  which  Christ  had  promised  to  be  ''with  to 
the  end  of  the  world,  and  to  guide  into  all  truth,"  went  astray, 
and  unanimoitsly  taught  false  doctrine  150  years  after  the 
death  of  St.  John  ! 

What,  in  fact,  are  such  appeals?  They  are  insulting  to  the 
faith  and  common  sense  of  mankind,  and  they  are  dishonorable 
to  God,  for  they  make  Him  a  liar. 

Of  what  positive  typical  instance  of  infant  Baptism  do  we 
read  in  I  Cor.  10:1,  2  ?  The  children  of  Israel  were  all  baptized 
unto  Moses,  etc. 

When,  in  the  scriptures,  threatenings  are  pronounced 
against  unbelievers,  what  is  evidently  presupposed  ?  That 
they  ca7i  believe  and  will  not  believe. 

Give  a  similar  instance  in  II  Thes.  3:10.  ''  If  an}^  man  work 
not  neither  shall  he  eat."  Here  the  Greek  is  :  If  any  one 
wovk  not,"  etc.  Now  surely  it  would  be  very  wricked  to  argue 
from  this  that  a  child  must  not  eat  because  it  cannot  work  : 
yet  the  Bible,  literally  taken,  here  says  so.  But  is  it  not  the 
plain  and  evident  meaning  that  if  any  one  can  work,  and  will 
not  w^ork,  he  shall  not  eat  ? 

By  using  a  little  plain  common  sense  about  the ''believing " 
required  in  St.  Mark  16:16,  what  is  the  evident  fact  ?  That  no 
allusion  is  made  to,  or  any  exclusion  intended  of,  those  who 
cannot  believe — that  unbelievers  and  rejectors  of  the  gospel  are 
intended. 

What  must  we  particularly  remember?  That  infants  are 
not  unbelievers. 

What  was  the  command  to  the  Apostles  in  the  above-quoted 
passage  ?  Go  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to 
every  creature,  "he  that"  (on  this  preaching)  ''believeth  and  is 
baptized,"  etc.  They  to  whom  the  gospel  was  preached  must 
believe  and  be  baptized :  the  gospel  was  not  preached  to 
infants,  but  the  promises  of  it  were  to  the  children  also.  Acts 
2:39.  Why  should  they,  then,  not  have  the  seal  of  the  promise, 
i.  e.^  Baptism  ? 

W^hen  converts  were  made  to  the  Jewish  faith,  before  the 
coming  of  Christ,  were  they  all  baptized  with  the  Jewish  mode 


20 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


of  Baptism  ?  They  were,  infants  and  all — thus  infant  Baptism 
was  nothing  new  or  strangle  to  the  Jews. 

Mention  some  instances  in  scripture  where  our  Saviour 
bestowed  his  blessing:s  on  individuals  in  consequence  of  the 
faith  of  others.  St.  Matt.  8:13;  9:2;  St.  Mark  7:26-29;  9:23; 
St.  John  4:50. 

What  does  Calvin  say:  Infants,  whom  Christ  enumerates 
among  His  members,  are  to  be  baptized  in  order  that  they 
may  not  be  dissevered  from  His  Body.  See  the  violent  onset 
which  the  Baptists  make  with  all  their  engines  on  the  bulwarks 
of  our  faith."  Calvin's  Institutes.  Book  4,  chap.  16,  vol.  3,  page 
372,  Calvin  Soc.  Trans. 

What  does  Calvin  further  say  ?  There  is  no  writer,  how- 
ever ancient,  who  does  not  refer  the  origin  of  infant  Baptism 
to  the  age  of  the  Apostles."    Institutes.  4,  chap.  16,  S.  8. 

Why  do  you  especially  quote  Calvin  ?  Because  his  authority 
is  reverenced  by  those  who  oppose  infant  Baptism. 

What  does  Christ  call  the  Church  ?  The  Sheepfold.  St. 
John  10:16. 

Was  there  ever  a  sheepfold  that  excluded  the  lambs,  and 
left  them  to  the  wolves  outside  ?  Not  until  Williams  and 
Holloman  started  one  in  1639. 

AYhat  was  the  express  injunction  of  our  blessed  Lord  to  St. 
Peter  (John  21:15)?    Feed  my  lambs. 

What  promise  did  our  blessed  Lord  make  to  his  Apostles? 
St.  Matt.  28:20.  "  Lo,  I  am  with  you  every  day,  even  unto  the 
end  of  the  world." 

As  the  Apostles  died  before  the  end  of  the  world  came, 
what  is  the  evident  meaning  of  this?  That  He  was  to  be  with 
them  and  their  successors  in  office. 

If,  therefore,  the  whole  Church  baptized  infants  for  nearly 
seventeen  centuries  after  Christ,  what  must  any  one  who 
believes  it  to  be  wrong,  maintain  ?  He  must  maintain  that 
the  Holy  Spirit  did  not  guide  the  Church  into  all  truth  (St. 
John  16:13),  and  that  Christ  did  not  fulfill  His  promise  to  be 
with  His  Apostles  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

Yet  what  does  St.  Paul  declare?  Heb.  10:23.  He  is 
faithful  that  promised." 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


21 


sj^^postolic  Succession. 


Bishop  Huntington,  in  the  New  York  Churchman^  of  August 
6,  1887,  thus  traces  the  Apostolic  succession  of  the  Church. 
The  line  of  Bishops  is  also  traced,  perhaps  more  fully,  through 
the  Church  of  Lyons  to  the  Ephesian  Church  and  St.  John: 

8t.  James,  A.  D.,  35;  Simeon,  65;  Justus  I,  107;  Zaccheus, 
115;  Tobias,  115;  Benjamin,  117;  John,  119;  Matthew,  121; 
Philip,  122:  Seneca,  126;  Justus  II,  127;  Levi.  128;  Ephraim, 
129;  Joseph,  131 ;  Judas,  132;  Marcus  I,  134;  Cassianus,  146; 
Publius,  154;  Maximus,  159;  Julian,  163;  Caius  I,  165;  Sym- 
mathus,  168;  Caius  II,  170;  Julian,  173;  Maximus,  178;  An- 
tonius,  182;  Capito,  186;  Valens,  191 ;  Dolchianus,  194;  Nar- 
cissus, 196  ;  Dius,  200  ;  Germanio,  207 ;  Gordius  and  Narcissus, 
211;  Alexander,  227;  Marabenes,  251;  Hymeneus,  265; 
Zanbi,  298;  Herman,  300;  Macarius,  310;  Maximus  111,315; 
Cyril,  330;  Herenius,  350;  Cyril  (restored),  361 ;  Hilary,  364; 
Cyril  (again),  379;  John  11,386;  Pragtius,  416 ;  Juvenal,  424; 
Anastasius,  458;  Martvrius,  478;  Salutus,  486;  Elias,  494; 
John  III,  513;  David  of  Wales,  530-560;  through  the  Welch 
Bishops,  and  also  through  Benedict  I,  of  the  Roman  line,  and 
Ethereus,  of  the  Ephesian  line,  to  Augustine  of  Canterbury, 
597;  Laurtius,  604;  Melitas,  617;  Tustus,  622;  Honorias,  626; 
Deodatus.  654;  Theodore,  668,  Brithwald,  693;  Tatwin,  730; 
Nothelm,  735;  Cuthbert,  736;  Bre^win,  759;  Lambert,  764; 
Athelard,  793 ;  Wulfred,  805;  Theodld,  832;  Ceolnoth,  833; 
Ethelred,  870;  Fegmund,  895;  Athelin,  914 ;  Wulthelm,  923; 
Wulthelm  II,  942;  Dunstan,  960;  Ethelgar,  988 ;  Siricius,  990  ; 
Nifric,  995  ;  Etphege,  1005  ;  Livingus,  1013  ;  Ethelworth, 
1020  ;  Eadsinus,  1050  ;  Robert,  1051  ;  Stigand,  1052  ; 
Lanfranc,  1070  ;  Anselm,  1093  ;  Ralph,  1113  ;  Wm.  Cor- 
benil,  1123  ;  Theobald,  1139  ;  Thomas  a  Becket,  1162  ; 
Richard,  1174  ;  Baldwin,  1185  ;  Reginald  Fitz  Jocelyn, 
1191;  Hubert  Walter,  1193;  Stephen  Langton,  1207:  Richard 
Wethered,  1229 ;  Edmund  Rich,  1234 ;  Boniface  of  Savoy,  1245 ; 
Robert  Kilwarby,  1273;  John  Peckham,  1279;  Robert  Winches- 
lev,  1299;  Walter  Reynolds,  1313;  Simon  Messeham,  1328; 
John  Stratford,  1332 ;  John  de  Ufford,  1348;  Thos.  Bradwar- 


22 


SUGGESTINNS  TO  BAPTIST  CHRISTIANS. 


dine,  1349 ;  Simon  Islip,  1349 ;  Simon  Langham,  1366 ;  William 
Whittlesy,  1368;  Simon  Ludburg,  1375 ;  William  Courtenav, 
1381;  Thos.  Arundell,  1399;  Henry  Chichely,  1414;  John  Staf- 
ford, 1443 ;  John  Kempe,  1452 ;  Thos.  Bowcher,  1454 ;  John 
Morton,  1486;  Henrv  Deane,  1501 ;  Wm.  Wareham,  1503  ;  Thos. 
Cranmer,  1533;  Cardinal  Pole,  1556;  Matthew  Parker,  1559; 
Edmund  Grindall,  1576  ;  John  Whitgift,  1583 ;  Richard  Ban- 
croft, 1604;  George  Abbott,  1611 ;  Wm.  Laud,  1633:  Wm.  Jux- 
on,  1660;  Gilbert  Sheldon,  1663 ;  Wm.  Sancroft,  1678;  John 
Tillotson,  1691;  Thomas  Tennison,  1695;  Wm.  Wake,  1716: 
John  Potter,  1737;  Thos.  Herring,  1747;  Matthew  Hut  ton. 
1757;  Thos  Seeker,  1758;  Frederick  Cornwallis,  1768;  John 
Moore,  1783;  Wm.  White,  1787;  Benjamin  Bosworth  Smith, 
1832;  Frederick  Dan  Huntington,  1869 — the  present  Bishop  of 
Central  New  York. 


APPENDIX. 


What  word  is  relied  on  to  show  that  the  eunuch  was  im- 
mersed? The  Greek  word  eis.  It  is  contended  this  word 
always  means  ''into." 

Give  an  instance,  where  it  cannot  mean  into."  St.  John 
20:4.  Here  we  read  that  John  came  "  eis  "  the  sepulchre,  "ye^ 
went  he  not  in.''^  "  Ou  mentoi  eisalthen.''^  Peter  then  came 
and  eisalthen  eis  to  mnameion^'^ — went  into  the  sepulchre. 
Here  John  came  to  (eis)^  yet  it  is  positively  asserted  he  went 
not  in.  When  it  is  necessary  to  show  that  Peter  went  into  the 
sepulchre  the  word  eis  is  repeated — the  repetition  of  the  word 
being  necessary  to  show  an  actual  entrance  into  the  sepulchre. 

Now  in  Acts  8:38,  there  is  no  repetition  of  the  word  eis^  con- 
sequently nothing  in  this  text  proves  immersion. 


N.  C.     204    Z99M    v.l  372436 
Nos. 1-15 


N.  C.  Bel  Iglons-Pa-^phlets 

Vol. 


Date  (for  periodical) 


Copy  No.   

N.C,     204    Z99IL    v.l  373436 

"OS. 1-18 


CALL  NUMBER 


